Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Husband
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Romance fantasy—what is that?
It's shorthand for romance fantasy.
And the typical romance fantasy features one female lead surrounded by multiple male leads, driving the story in a reverse harem setup.
...Or the sub-male leads all get eliminated, leaving just the main male lead for some sweet, pure romance.
Either way, the key point is that romance fantasies revolve around a tangle of affections from several men centered on one woman.
Does that mean romance fantasies are just shallow dramas of jealousy and romance?
...Hardly.
While the essence leans heavily toward 'romance,' it's undeniably a romance fantasy. Whether that fantasy draws from Western or Eastern vibes is anyone's guess.
...In any case, as a proper fantasy, it features magic and swords, otherworldly races, and all sorts of miracles impossible on Earth. The protagonists get swept up in it all.
Which naturally means there's an antagonist standing in opposition to the protagonists.
Something like a villainess tormenting the heroine, a demon king... or maybe another villain obsessed with or harboring murderous intent toward her.
In that sense, the antagonist in the story [It's Troublesome Because Great Men Are Obsessed] was the empire's war hero.
...And realizing that this was the world of that romance fantasy—and that I was the villainous war hero in it—happened one night.
War hero... no.
What kind of life does the 'villainous' war hero in a romance fantasy lead?
As a noble and war hero, does he live a blissful life of honor and power?
I could shake my head firmly at that question.
Absolutely not.
The villain in the original story, [Yujin Banus], was the illegitimate son of the prestigious Banus Marquis Family.
And for a high-ranking noble house like a marquisate, an illegitimate child was like a single drop of black ink on a pristine white sheet.
In other words, a stain.
Already scorned as a bastard, he endured relentless persecution, contempt, and malice from the nobles, while the servants and commoners below gossiped and envied him.
All because, bastard or not, he was still a 'noble,' so they assumed it must be easy for him.
'What nonsense.'
Pure nonsense. How could it possibly be easy?
Enduring torments akin to torture day after day, war suddenly broke out in the empire.
In the midst of that war, Yujin Banus was sent to the front lines as a sacrificial lamb for his family. And not with any training in swordsmanship or magic—he was just an ordinary person.
Family support?
Of course, there was none.
So everyone expected him to die. They figured he'd be torn apart by falling magic spells and bullets.
...Bullets, you ask?
This romance fantasy world awkwardly featured gunpowder technology.
'Ridiculous.'
In a world with Sword Masters, Archmages, Holy Knights, and Saints, adding guns? Know what happens?
...The answer is hell unfolds.
Details... I don't want to dwell on it now. Later.
Anyway, the powerless boy Yujin Banus survived the battlefield. Fortunately, he had exceptional talent with the sword—far beyond genius level.
So he killed enemies, and killed, and killed, and killed, and killed some more, growing enough to survive.
He grew to face legions with a single sword and cleave the skies.
And finally, Yujin Banus returned to his homeland as a war hero.
Pretty cool, right? A bastard surviving the blood-soaked battlefield to become a hero.
Achieving the master's realm that all swordsmen dream of, no less.
Truly impressive.
...But.
The romance fantasy [It's Troublesome Because Great Men Are Obsessed] turned that character into a mere 'villain.'
No, a guy with such a backstory and honor—why not just make him a male lead? He even got unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée. He's just pitiful.
He barely survived the war, and this is his reward? The original story's crudeness was lamentable.
Or is this the 'tragic villain' trope?
If so, it was honestly distasteful.
If you're going to make a villain, why pile on such a pathetic, detailed backstory?
…
...Truth be told, that's not what bothered me.
Simply...
I was displeased because I realized I was that villain.
.
.
.
Flick—
The handsome man with black hair and black eyes, Yujin Banus, sat up in bed.
"……"
He clutched his throbbing head and closed his eyes for a moment.
A hangover.
"...Haa..."
Once the pain eased a bit, Yujin ran a hand through his hair and thought.
'...This is ridiculous.'
My name is Yujin Banus.
[Yujin Banus].
Yes.
The villain... war hero I just described.
How did he realize this? Simple.
'I awakened to my past life while sleeping.'
Memories flooded in.
The first night back in the capital after the war ended. The emperor's summons hadn't come yet, nor had the victory banquet, so he hid his identity and had a few drinks.
While enjoying his solitary drink, he met a noble lady, ended up sleeping with her, and...
Sleeping...
...
Hold on.
Noble lady?
Slept with her?
...Did I sleep with a noble lady? After drinking, a one-night stand?
Rustle—
Then, a rustling of sheets came from beside him.
Come to think of it, the side of his body felt warm, like another person's body heat. Sensing something ominous, Yujin slowly turned his head.
And what he saw was...
"……"
A nude woman with light purple hair.
A cold beauty with sharp features reminiscent of his own, exuding a decadent aura.
"...Who are you?"
His gaze naturally drifted down, appraising her. The blanket hid her figure, but it was clear she had an impressive body.
As he pondered who she might be, the purple-haired woman softly opened her eyes.
"….."
She blinked a few times, then slowly turned to look at Yujin.
Their eyes met. After exchanging wordless stares for a moment, her blue eyes curved seductively.
"...You're awake, Your Excellency."
For some reason, her voice carried affection.
"……"
...Pretty.
Really pretty.
But who is she?
...She called him 'Your Excellency,' so she clearly knew who he was.
"Why so quiet, Your Excellency?"
"……"
...Who the hell is she?
Which lady is this?
She seemed vaguely familiar.
...Though he'd spent nearly five years on the battlefield, so at least five years ago.
Anyway, light purple hair and blue eyes?
...Traits that rang a bell. Like the genetic markers of the Arkabella Duke Family—
"...Hmm, if you want to see my body, just say so. Since Your Excellency took my first time, I consider you my hus—"
...Hold on.
"...First time?"
I took her virginity...?
That didn't make sense, and what's this about 'husband'? Does she intend to serve me as her lord and master?
No, more importantly, who is this lady?
Even sifting through hazy memories of last night, her name wouldn't come.
…
...Of course it wouldn't.
They met by chance at a tavern, got inexplicably drawn into a one-night stand—did they even exchange names? Frustrated, he sighed.
She knew him, but he had no clue about her.
"Hehe, if you don't believe me, check for yourself."
The woman with light purple hair and blue eyes smiled alluringly and lifted the blanket.
Revealed to Yujin's eyes was her completely nude, pristine white body—and the red bloodstains on the sheets.
Moreover, her flawless skin bore red handprints and what looked like kiss marks in several places.
...Ah.
'...It really was her first time.'
Now it clicked clearly. Last night, he had personally taken her virginity. That of some unknown noble lady.
Should he just pretend it never happened? Brush it off as a mishap?
...But such irresponsible behavior was unacceptable.
If they were commoners, maybe, but both were clearly nobles. And even as people, it was wrong.
...A sigh escaped in this hopeless situation.
"...Haa."
…
"...Do you dislike it?"
Misinterpreting his sigh, she asked with anxious eyes. Her voice trembled faintly.
A fragile tone that didn't match her decadent features.
'...Oh no.'
"...No, how could I dislike spending the night with a beauty like you, let alone taking your purity?"
"...Is that so? That's a relief."
As she smiled faintly and snuggled closer, he thought.
'Dislike it?'
No.
Quite the opposite.
As a man, spending the night with such a beautiful woman was undoubtedly pleasurable. Memories of ravishing her virginal body in a frenzy lingered.
...The problem was that they were strangers.
A noble lady's virginity and purity held value beyond mere words.
Because they were nobles.
In a world where a woman's virginity was commodified. There had even been wars over a noble bride not being a virgin.
'Rumors from the battlefield... some noble went to his father-in-law demanding a refund on his wife.'
Reason: his spouse wasn't a virgin.
Utterly absurd.
...Of course, things had changed.
Views treating noble ladies as 'goods' had faded, lowering the emphasis on virginity. Though it still held significant value.
And he'd gone and taken hers—from someone he didn't even know...
'...No idea what to do.'
...Ask her name first, maybe.
"...Lady, forgive me, but may I have your name—"
Knock knock knock—
—"Your Excellency. A decree from His Majesty the Emperor has arrived. If you're awake, please review it promptly."
...Ah.